Configurable Computing Array Die Based on Printed Memory and Two-Sided Integration

ABSTRACT

The present invention discloses a new type of configurable gate array—a configurable computing array die based on two-sided integration. It is a monolithic die and comprises at least a configurable computing element and a configurable logic element formed on different sides of a semiconductor substrate. Each configurable computing element can selectively realize a basic function from a math library. It comprises a plurality of printed arrays for storing the look-up tables (LUT) for different basic functions.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation-in-part of “Configurable Gate Array Based on Three-Dimensional Printed Memory”, application Ser. No. 15/450,017, filed Mar. 5, 2017, which claims priority from Chinese Patent Application 201610125731.8, filed on Mar. 5, 2016, in the State Intellectual Property Office of the People's Republic of China (CN), the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

This application also claims priority from Chinese Patent Application 201810187766.3, filed on Mar. 7, 2018, in the State Intellectual Property Office of the People's Republic of China (CN), the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

BACKGROUND 1. Technical Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to the field of integrated circuit, and more particularly to configurable gate array.

2. Prior Art

A configurable gate array is a semi-custom integrated circuit designed to be configured by a customer after manufacturing. It includes field programmable gate array (FPGA) and mask-programmed gate array (MPGA). U.S. Pat. No. 4,870,302 issued to Freeman on Sep. 26, 1989 (hereinafter referred to as Freeman) discloses a configurable gate array—FPGA. It contains an array of configurable logic elements (also known as configurable logic blocks) and a hierarchy of configurable interconnects (also known as programmable interconnects) that allow the configurable logic elements to be wired together. Each configurable logic element in the array is in itself capable of realizing any one of a plurality of logic functions (e.g. shift, logic NOT, logic AND, logic OR, logic NOR, logic NAND, logic XOR, arithmetic addition “+”, arithmetic subtraction “−”, etc.) depending upon a first configuration signal. Each configurable interconnect can selectively couple or de-couple interconnect lines depending upon a second configuration signal.

Math functions are widely used in various applications. To meet the speed requirements, many high-performance applications require that these math functions be implemented in hardware. In conventional configurable gate arrays, math functions are implemented in fixed computing elements, which are part of hard blocks and not configurable, i.e. the circuits implementing these math functions are fixedly connected and are not subject to change by programming. Apparently, fixed computing elements would limit further applications of the configurable gate array. To overcome this difficulty, the present invention expands the original concept of the configurable gate array by making the fixed computing elements configurable. In other words, besides configurable logic elements, the configurable gate array comprises configurable computing elements, which can realize any one of a plurality of math functions.

Objects and Advantages

It is a principle object of the present invention to extend the applications of a configurable gate array to the field of math computation.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a configurable gate array where not only logic functions can be customized, but also math functions.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a configurable gate array with more computing power.

In accordance with these and other objects of the present invention, the present invention discloses a new type of configurable gate array—a configurable computing array die based on two-sided integration.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention discloses a new type of configurable gate array—a configurable computing array die based on two-sided integration. It is a monolithic die and comprises at least an array of configurable computing elements, an array of configurable logic elements and a plurality of configurable interconnects. Each configurable computing element can selectively realize a math function from a math library. The math functions in the math library are generally referred to as basic functions and include functions such as exp, log, sin, cos, tan, a tan, sqrt, cbrt. Each configurable computing element comprises a plurality of printed arrays storing the look-up tables (LUT) for the basic functions. It further comprises at least an internal configurable interconnect to select the LUT of the desired basic function. In the present invention, the configurable computing elements and the configurable logic elements are formed on different sides of a semiconductor substrate (i.e. one formed on the front side and the other formed on the back side). They are electrically coupled through a plurality of through-silicon vias (TSV).

The preferred configurable computing array die can be used to realize a complex math function. A complex math function is defined as a combination of basic functions. During computation, the complex math function is first decomposed into a number of basic functions. Each basic function is then realized by an associated configurable computing element. Finally, the complex math function is realized by programming the corresponding configurable logic elements and configurable interconnects.

Accordingly, the present invention discloses a configurable computing array die, comprising: a semiconductor substrate having a first side and a second side; at least a configurable computing element formed on said first side, said configurable computing element comprising: a first printed array for storing a first look-up table (LUT) of a first basic function; a second printed array for storing a second LUT of a second basic function; a plurality of internal configurable interconnects coupling said first and second printed arrays; wherein said configurable computing element selectively realizes said first or second basic function by programming said internal configurable interconnects; at least a configurable logic element formed on said second side of said semiconductor substrate, wherein said configurable logic element selectively realizes a logic function from a logic library; a plurality of through-substrate vias through said semiconductor substrate for coupling said configurable computing element and said configurable logic element; wherein said configurable computing array die realizes a complex math function by programming said configurable computing element and said configurable logic element.

The present invention further discloses a configurable computing array die, comprising: a semiconductor substrate having a first side and a second side; at least a configurable computing element formed on said first side, said configurable computing element comprising: a first printed array for storing a first look-up table (LUT) of a first basic function; a second printed array for storing a second LUT of a second basic function; a plurality of internal configurable interconnects coupling said first and second printed arrays; wherein said configurable computing element selectively realizes said first or second basic function by programming said internal configurable interconnects; at least a configurable logic element formed on said second side of said semiconductor substrate, wherein said configurable logic element selectively realizes a logic function from a logic library; a plurality of through-substrate vias through said semiconductor substrate for coupling said configurable computing element and said configurable logic element; at least a configurable interconnect for selectively realizing an interconnect from an interconnect library; wherein said configurable computing array die realizes a complex math function by programming said configurable computing element, said configurable logic element and said configurable interconnect.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 discloses a symbol for a preferred configurable computing element;

FIG. 2 is a circuit block diagram of a preferred configurable computing element. It also discloses a math library supported by the preferred configurable computing element;

FIG. 3 is a layout view of a first implementation of the preferred configurable computing element. It also shows a math library supported by this preferred configurable computing element;

FIGS. 4A-4B disclose a second implementation of the preferred configurable computing element: FIG. 4A is its cross-sectional view; FIG. 4B is its substrate layout view;

FIG. 5 is a circuit block diagram of a preferred configurable computing array die;

FIG. 6A shows an interconnect library supported by a preferred configurable interconnect; FIG. 6B shows a logic library supported by a preferred configurable logic element;

FIG. 7 shows an implementation of the preferred configurable computing array die;

FIGS. 8A-8C show a preferred configurable computing array die based on two-sided integration. FIG. 8A is a perspective view of its front side; FIG. 8B is a perspective view of its back side; FIG. 8C is a cross-sectional view.

It should be noted that all the drawings are schematic and not drawn to scale. Relative dimensions and proportions of parts of the device structures in the figures have been shown exaggerated or reduced in size for the sake of clarity and convenience in the drawings. The same reference symbols are generally used to refer to corresponding or similar features in the different embodiments.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Those of ordinary skills in the art will realize that the following description of the present invention is illustrative only and is not intended to be in any way limiting. Other embodiments of the invention will readily suggest themselves to such skilled persons from an examination of the within disclosure.

FIG. 1 discloses a symbol for a preferred configurable computing element 100. The input port IN includes input data 115, the output port OUT includes output data 135, and the configuration port CFG includes at least a configuration signal 125. The configurable computing element 100 can selectively realize a math function from a math library depending on the configuration signal 125. In the present invention, the math functions in the math library are generally referred to as basic functions and include functions such as exp, log, sin, cos, tan, a tan, sqrt, cbrt.

FIG. 2 is a circuit block diagram of a preferred configurable computing element 100. It also discloses a math library supported thereby. The preferred configurable computing element 100 is based on a printed memory. It comprises a plurality of printed arrays 110-140 for storing the LUTs A-D of the math library. The math library supports four basic functions, including log( ), exp( ), log [sin( )], log [cos( )]. The printed array 110 stores the LUT A of log( ); the printed array 120 stores the LUT B 120 of exp( ); the printed array 130 stores the LUT C 130 of log [sin( )]; and the printed array 140 stores the LUT D of log [cos( )]. The preferred computing element 100 further comprises first and second internal configurable interconnects 150, 160. In this preferred embodiment, the first internal configurable interconnect 150 is a 1-to-4 demultiplexer, the second internal configurable interconnect 160 is a 4-to-1 multiplexer. To realize, for instance, a basic function exp( ) from the math library, the first internal configurable interconnect 150 is configured in such a way that the input data 115 is sent to the printed array 120, which is used as an address to read the value of exp( ) from the LUT B; and the second internal configurable interconnect 160 is configured in such a way that the read-out value from the LUT B is sent out as the output data 135. It should be apparent to those skilled in the art that the math library could have more math functions. For example, it could have eight math functions, including log( ), exp( ), sin( ), cos( ), sqrt( ), cbrt( ), tan( ), a tan( ). Other combinations are also possible.

For the printed memory, the data are recorded thereto using a printing method during manufacturing. For the printing method, the data are fixedly recorded and cannot be changed after manufacturing. The printing method includes photo-lithography, nano-imprint, e-beam lithography, DUV lithography, laser-programming, and others. As the data are recorded during manufacturing and cannot be changed, the printed memory does not need to support electrical programming. In contrast, a writable memory needs to support electrical programming. Because the read voltage/current of a writable cell has to smaller than its programming voltage/current, the read voltage/current of a writable cell is smaller than that of a printed cell and therefore, the read access of the writable memory is slower than the printed memory. Thus, the printed memory is better suited for high-performance computing.

One printed memory of particular importance is a three-dimensional printed memory (3D-P, referring to U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/450,017). Using 3D-P for the preferred configurable computing element 100 offers many advantages. First of all, because it is faster than a three-dimensional writable memory (3D-W), 3D-P can be used to realize high-performance configurable computing elements. Secondly, the 3D-P arrays storing the LUTs for different basic math functions either have the same size, or differ by an integral multiple. The 3D-P arrays for different basic math functions can be arranged in different memory levels and vertically stacked within a same 3D-M block. This would save substantial die area. Thirdly, because the 3D-P array does not occupy any substrate area, the internal configurable interconnects 150, 160 can be formed underneath the 3D-P arrays. This would further save die area.

FIG. 3 discloses a first implementation of the preferred configurable computing element 100. In this preferred embodiment, each LUT is stored in a printed array: the LUT A is stored in the printed array 110, the LUT B is stored in the printed array 120, the LUT C is stored in the printed array 130, and the LUT D is stored in the printed array 140. These printed arrays 110-140 are placed side-by-side. The preferred configurable computing element 100 further includes the internal configurable interconnects 150, 160 and the decoders for the printed arrays 110-140. For example, the X decoder 15A and Y decoder (including read-out circuit) 17A for the printed array 110.

To minimize the substrate area occupied by the configurable computing element 100, the printed arrays storing the LUTs for different basic functions are vertically stacked. FIGS. 4A-4B discloses a second implementation of the preferred configurable computing element 100. In the cross-sectional view of the preferred embodiment (FIG. 4A), the printed array 110 (storing LUT A for the function log( )) is stacked above the substrate circuit OK (along the +Z direction), the printed array 120 (storing LUT B for the function exp( )) is stacked above the printed array 110 (along the +Z direction), the printed array 130 (storing LUT C for the function log [sin( )]) is stacked above the printed array 120 (along the +Z direction), and the printed array 140 (storing LUT D for the function log [cos( )]) is stacked above the printed array 130 (along the +Z direction). This arrangement becomes more apparent in the substrate layout view of FIG. 4B. The projections of the printed arrays 110-140 (storing the LUTs A-D) overlap each other on the substrate 0. The substrate area occupied by this preferred embodiment is only ˜¼ of that of FIG. 3. Here, Z decoder 19 is, in fact, the internal configurable interconnects 150, 160. The printed arrays 110-140 in FIGS. 4A-4B form a 3D-P. More details on 3D-P are disclosed in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/390,498.

Referring now to FIG. 5, a preferred configurable computing array die 400 is disclosed. It comprises at least first and second configurable slices 400A, 400B. Each configurable slice (e.g. 400A) comprises a first array of configurable computing elements (e.g. 100AA-100AD) and a second array of configurable logic elements (e.g. 200AA-200AD). A configurable channel 320 is placed between the first array of configurable computing elements (e.g. 100AA-100AD) and the second array of configurable logic elements (e.g. 200AA-200AD). The configurable channels 310, 330, 350 are also placed between different configurable slices 300A, 300B. The configurable channels 310-350 comprise a plurality of configurable interconnects 300. For those skilled in the art, besides configurable channels, sea-of-gates may also be used. In some embodiments, the preferred configurable computing array 400 further comprises at least a multiplier, which is coupled with selected configurable computing elements and/or selected configurable logic elements through a set of configurable interconnects. This multiplier performs multiplication between two variables.

FIG. 6A shows an interconnect library supported by a preferred configurable interconnect 300. An interconnect library is a collection of all interconnects supported by a configurable interconnect. This interconnect library includes the followings: a) the interconnects 302/304 are coupled, the interconnects 306/308 are coupled, but 302/304 are not connected with 306/308; b) the interconnects 302/304/306/308 are all coupled; c) the interconnects 306/308 are coupled, but the interconnects 302, 304 are not coupled, neither are 302, 304 connected with 306/308; d) the interconnects 302/304 are coupled, but the interconnects 306, 308 are not coupled, neither are 306, 308 connected with 302/304; e) interconnects 302, 304, 306, 308 are not coupled at all. As used herein, the symbol “/” between two interconnects means that these two interconnects are coupled, while the symbol “,” between two interconnects means that these two interconnects are not coupled. More details on the configurable interconnects are disclosed in Freeman.

FIG. 6B shows a logic library supported by a preferred configurable logic element 200. A logic library is a collection of all logic functions supported by a configurable logic element. In this preferred embodiment, the inputs A and B are input data 210, 200, and the output C is the output data 230, the logic library includes the followings: C=A, NOT A, A shift by n bits, AND(A,B), OR(A,B), NAND(A,B), NOR(A,B), XOR(A,B), A+B, A−B. To facilitate pipelining, the configurable logic element 200 may comprise sequential logic such as flip-flops and registers. More details on the configurable logic elements are disclosed in Freeman.

Referring now to FIG. 7, a preferred configurable computing array die implementing a complex math function e=a·sin(b)+c·cos(d) is disclosed. The configurable interconnects 300 in the configurable channel 310-350 use the same convention as FIG. 6A: the interconnects with dots at the intersection mean that the interconnects are connected; the interconnects without dots at the intersection mean that the interconnects are not connected; a broken interconnect means that two broken sections are two un-coupled interconnect lines. In this preferred implementation, the configurable computing element 100AA is configured to realize the function log( ), whose result log(a) is sent to a first input of the configurable logic element 200A. The configurable computing element 100AB is configured to realize the function log [sin( )], whose result log [sin(b)] is sent to a second input of the configurable logic element 200A. The configurable logic element 200A is configured to realize arithmetic addition, whose result log(a)+log [sin(b)] is sent the configurable computing element 100BA. The configurable computing element 100BA is configured to realize the function exp( ), whose result exp{log(a)+log [sin(b)]}=a·sin(b) is sent to a first input of the configurable logic element 200BA. Similarly, through proper configuration, the results of the configurable computing elements 100AC, 100AD, the configurable logic elements 200AC, and the configurable computing element 100BC are sent to a second input of the configurable logic element 200BA. The configurable logic element 200BA is configured to realize arithmetic addition, whose result a·sin(b)+c·cos(d) is sent to the output e. Apparently, by changing its configuration, the configurable computing array 400 can realize other complex math functions.

Referring now to FIGS. 8A-8C, a preferred configurable computing array die 400 based on two-sided integration is disclosed. It is a monolithic die comprising a semiconductor substrate 0. The substrate 0 has a front side 0F (towards the +z direction) and a back side 0B (towards the −z direction). In this preferred embodiment, the configuration logic elements 200AA-200BB are formed at the front side 0F of the substrate 0 (FIG. 9A), while the configurable computing elements 100AA-100BB are formed at the back side 0B of the substrate 0 (FIG. 9B). They are coupled through a plurality of through-substrate vias 180 (including 180 a-180 c). Examples of the through-substrate vias include through-silicon vias (TSV). Alternatively, the configurable computing elements 100AA-100BB are formed at the front side 0F, while the configurable logic elements 200AA-200BB are formed at the back side 0B.

This type of integration, i.e. forming the configurable logic elements 100AA-100BB and the configurable computing elements 200AA-200BB on different sides of the substrate, is referred to as two-sided integration. The two-sided integration can improve computational density and computational complexity. With the conventional 2-D integration, the die size of configurable computing array is the sum of those of the configurable computing elements and the configurable logic elements. With the two-side integration, the configurable computing elements are moved from aside to the other side. This leads to a smaller die size and a higher computational density. In addition, because the memory transistors in the configurable computing elements and the logic transistors in the configurable logic elements are formed on different sides of the substrate, their manufacturing processes can be optimized separately.

The preferred embodiments disclosed in FIGS. 5 and 7 are field-programmable computing arrays (FPCA). In FPCA, the wafers are fully finished, i.e. all configurable computing elements, configurable logic elements and configurable interconnects are finished together. The functions of the FPCA are later defined in the field. The inventive concepts of the present invention can be easily extended to back-end programmable computing arrays. In the back-end programmable computing arrays, the wafers are half-finished, i.e. only the configurable computing elements and the configurable logic elements are finished, while the configurable interconnects are not. Once the chip functions are defined, the configurable channels 310-350 are customized by the back-end process.

While illustrative embodiments have been shown and described, it would be apparent to those skilled in the art that many more modifications than that have been mentioned above are possible without departing from the inventive concepts set forth therein. The invention, therefore, is not to be limited except in the spirit of the appended claims. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A configurable computing array die, comprising: a semiconductor substrate having a first side and a second side; at least a configurable computing element formed on said first side, said configurable computing element comprising: a first printed array for storing a first look-up table (LUT) of a first basic function; a second printed array for storing a second LUT of a second basic function; a plurality of internal configurable interconnects coupling said first and second printed arrays; wherein said configurable computing element selectively realizes said first or second basic function by programming said internal configurable interconnects; at least a configurable logic element formed on said second side of said semiconductor substrate, wherein said configurable logic element selectively realizes a logic function from a logic library; a plurality of through-substrate vias through said semiconductor substrate for coupling said configurable computing element and said configurable logic element; wherein said configurable computing array die realizes a complex math function by programming said configurable computing element and said configurable logic element.
 2. The configurable computing array die according to claim 1, wherein said first and second printed arrays are placed side-by-side.
 3. The configurable computing array die according to claim 1, wherein said second printed array is stacked above said first printed array.
 4. The configurable computing array die according to claim 3, wherein said second printed array at least partially covers said first printed array.
 5. The configurable computing array die according to claim 1, wherein said first and second LUTs are respectively recorded into said first and second printed arrays using a printing method during manufacturing.
 6. The configurable computing array die according to claim 5, wherein said printing method is photo-lithography, nano-imprint, e-beam lithography, DUV lithography, or laser-programming.
 7. The configurable computing array die according to claim 1, wherein said first side is a front side and said second side is a back side.
 8. The configurable computing array die according to claim 1, wherein said first side is a back side and said second side is a front side.
 9. A configurable computing array die, comprising: a semiconductor substrate having a first side and a second side; at least a configurable computing element formed on said first side, said configurable computing element comprising: a first printed array for storing a first look-up table (LUT) of a first basic function; a second printed array for storing a second LUT of a second basic function; a plurality of internal configurable interconnects coupling said first and second printed arrays; wherein said configurable computing element selectively realizes said first or second basic function by programming said internal configurable interconnects; at least a configurable logic element formed on said second side of said semiconductor substrate, wherein said configurable logic element selectively realizes a logic function from a logic library; a plurality of through-substrate vias through said semiconductor substrate for coupling said configurable computing element and said configurable logic element; at least a configurable interconnect for selectively realizing an interconnect from an interconnect library; wherein said configurable computing array die realizes a complex math function by programming said configurable computing element, said configurable logic element and said configurable interconnect.
 10. The configurable computing array die according to claim 9, wherein said first and second printed arrays are placed side-by-side.
 11. The configurable computing array die according to claim 9, wherein said second printed array is stacked above said first printed array.
 12. The configurable computing array die according to claim 11, wherein said second printed array at least partially covers said first printed array.
 13. The configurable computing array die according to claim 9, wherein said first printed array is stacked above said internal configurable interconnects.
 14. The configurable computing array die according to claim 9, wherein said second printed array is stacked above said internal configurable interconnects.
 15. The configurable computing array die according to claim 9, wherein said configurable interconnect is formed on said first side.
 16. The configurable computing array die according to claim 9, wherein said configurable interconnect is formed on said second side.
 17. The configurable computing array die according to claim 9, wherein said first and second LUTs are respectively recorded into said first and second printed arrays using a printing method during manufacturing.
 18. The configurable computing array die according to claim 17, wherein said printing method is photo-lithography, nano-imprint, e-beam lithography, DUV lithography, or laser-programming.
 19. The configurable computing array die according to claim 9, wherein said first side is a front side and said second side is a back side.
 20. The configurable computing array die according to claim 9, wherein said first side is a back side and said second side is a front side. 